‘Pancake dog’ statue to be restored

It is a quirky piece of Dewsbury’s heritage that some may not have come across.

But construction company HB Projects hopes to keep the legend of the town’s ‘Pancake Dog’ alive, by restoring the statue as part of a renovation of the Howlands Centre.

Workers have managed to get a close up view of the monument, which sits on the rear of the building’s roof, for the first time in more than a century.

Legend has it that the dog, which was moved from the old vicarage to its position on School Street in the 1880s, jumps down for its pancake when the bells ring on Shrove Tuesday.

Tom Ellis, chairman of the Dewsbury and District League of Friendship, based at Howlands, said: “It is really exciting as this is probably the first time the pancake dog has been seen clearly since it was placed in position int he 1880s.

“HB Projects have promised to clean it up as part of the £500,000 refurbishment of the building paid for by the Big Lottery.

“The dog will be placed back in position in time for the re-opening of the building in July.

“We will then have a superb building that the whole of the Dewsbury community will be able to use and will be proud of.”

Dewsbury East councillor Paul Kane added: “I think it is fantastic that HB Projects are cleaning up the ‘Pancake Dog’ and helping to preserve such a quirky feature in Dewsbury’s heritage. I am a great believer in keeping traditions alive.”